Boston Fall 2020 Arts Lineup

The pandemic means that this fall’s art scene is going to look a little different than usual, but local arts organizations are continuing to innovate, adapt, and create a myriad of enriching experiences for Greater Boston.We’re rounding up several of the upcoming seasons from theatre companies, museums, music groups, and more that we’re excited about and we know you will be too. Head over to the ArtsBoston Calendar for an extensive look at these organizations’ upcoming virtual events, in-person experiences, class programs, and more.

THEATRE

Actors’ Shakespeare Project

ASP is always worth a visit, but this season in particular will be one to look out for, with “The Nature of Shakespeare” premiering in October. Filmed at the Arnold Arboretum, this virtual experience draws on the inspiration of natural settings in performing some of the  language reveal itself when performed in the stunning surroundings of nature.

Company One Theatre

Company One will be annoucning the full lineup of their 2020-2021 season soon, but we’re already excited for what’s to come with the Better Future Series, which has been hosting important conversations at the intersection of art and activism all summer. Plus, their Open-Write series with Resident Playwright Kirsten Greenidge and nationally-known writers has more opportunities on the horizon as well.

New Repertory Theatre

In addition to their virtual series, the In the Wings Artists’ Salon, New Rep recently announced the Watertown Historical Moving Plays, an innovative immersive theatrical experience that lead participants on a stroll through Watertown’s historic areas.

The Theater Offensive 

TTO has some awesome fall programming coming up, and we hope there’ll be more to come! Tune in on October 1 for #VoteOffensively: ID Monologues, a virtual performance that draws on Legislative Theater methodology to “examine how QTPOC interact with Voter ID laws and the effect that navigating these complex legislative systems and barriers has on their existance and communities.”

ArtsEmerson

If you’re dying to shake up the movies you’ve been streaming in quarantine, ArtsEmerson’s fall lineup is going to do just that. From this September’s run of Our Time Machine to the Boston Latino International Film Festival and the Bright Lights Film Series, you’ll be all set with top-notch contentn for the coming months.

Central Square Theater

CST has been producing and co-producing all types of performances this summer at Starlight Square, and we’re glad that there are more to come! The venue welcomes ArtsEmerson’s Mr. Joy to the outdoor stage starting October 1!

Umbrella Arts Center

In addition to their robust class schedule, Umbrella Arts Center has revised their 2020-2021 season to include Performing Arts @ Home programming. What’s more, one of their offerings is a new play written for virtual performance, Unboxed!

DANCE

Danza Organica

The lineup for this fall includes dance workshops, cultural justice work, and more, including a collaboration with the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum on Indigenous People’s Day.

The Dance Complex 

DC has been one of the organizations working with Cambridge’s Starlight Square, and through October, they’re bringing a wide array of dance performances and classes to the outdoor stage. Check out the Black Dance Boston series in mid-October for performances from Boston-area dancers celebrating many different dance styles connected to Black experiences.

MUSIC

A Far Cry

Boston’s conducted orchestra has garnered acclaim for the quality of their music, but also for their rotating leadership model. This season, check out a variety of online events from concerts, to conversations, and post-concert Zoom receptions. Scheduled performances include Mozart, contemporary duets, and a performance rooted in the cultures of Peru, Colombia, and Brazil.

Boston Lyric Opera 

In addition to producing over 1,800 lip-reading-friendly clear-front face masks to support Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities in Boston, BLO is charging into fall with online events and in-person with safe, socially distanced open-air performances this fall through operALIVE and their BLO Street Stage “mobile opera truck.”

Guerilla Opera 

They’ve already been hard at work this past spring and summer on the COVID Experiments, a series of virtual projects that combine music, theatre, and imagination, and Guerilla Opera isn’t stopping there. Their workshops and labs are also not-to-miss.

Boston Baroque

The 2020-2021 season is all-virtual this year, and with a Boston Baroque Live subscription, you can access dozens of programs and performances. First up is Beethoven’s Fidelio, which tells a story of political oppression, justice, and love.

Handel + Hadyn Society

H+H has an glorious lineup of virtual concerts scheduled through November so far. Audiences are sure to be musically swept away with programs like “The Magic of Bach,” “The Magic of Vivaldi,” and “Glories of the Baroque.” Plus, their November concert “Every Voice” celebrates female composers in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment. What a great opportunity to show up for local, civically-engaged art!

VISUAL ARTS

MIT List Visual Arts Center 

This fall, the List Visual Arts Center is featuring more than just works of art, with participatory experiences available now to sign up for. The Postcard Mail Art Exchange will allow participants a socially-distanced moment of connection through decorating and sending out a blank postcard, and receiving one from another participant later on.

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

We’ve been raving about The Mural Project all summer, and with the museum re-opening to the public on September 26th, we are excited that the MFA is going to keep us satiated with art into the coming months!

Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston

The ICA has been working hard to keep in-person visitors safe (and informed — they’ve been helping folks register to vote outside) and they continue to have a stellar lineup of virtual musical experiences, with more DJ nights coming up soon. The upcoming exhibit Ragnar Kjartansson: The Visitors, is going to make waves coming up in October!

MORE

Boston Center for the Arts

Lunchtime Listening Sessions have been a must-see of the summer, and the lineup is extending into the fall with local artists like Cliff Notez, DJ Why Sham, and more in conversation with curator and BCA Director of Theatre Arts Lyndsay Allyn Cox.

Global Arts Live

This extensive lineup of magnetic performers and exclusive classes spans virtual and in-person events, like Kotoko Brass at Starlight Square in October.

Celebrity Series of Boston

The Fall 2020 lineup of Celebrity Series At Home features a diverse lineup of 18 artists including performances by Abilities Dance, poet Regie Gibson, and more.

Dorchester Art Project

On our radar: Fields Corner’s Dorchester Art Project is expanding their second-floor premesis to include a ground floor storefront that will add to the community arts center’s offerings, which include private artist studios, two gallery spaces, a zine library and a small performance hall.